Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Last week, KDOT along with five other state
departments of transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, signed an
agreement today that will improve pollinator habitat along Interstate 35, a key
migratory corridor for Monarch butterflies.

In the past year, I-35, which passes through Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas,
Oklahoma and Texas, was identified as a corridor that could be enhanced as
butterfly habitat through the increased planting of vegetation that provides
refuge and a food source.

Kansas roadside on I-35.

“Kansas roadsides have been a haven for Monarchs since 2008 when KDOT started
planting butterfly milkweed and other native wildflowers on the roadsides,”
Scott Shields, KDOT Environmental Scientist, said. “We are excited to partner
with other states on I-35 to provide education and habitat for these important
pollinator insects.”

This agreement establishes a cooperative and coordinated effort to establish
best practices and promote public awareness of the Monarch butterfly and other
pollinating insects.

Wildflowers growing on I-35 in Kansas.

Monarch butterflies hatch in late summer or early fall, wintering in Mexico. In
the spring, butterflies begin their 2,000-mile trek north. Along the way, they
lay eggs that develop into butterflies that finish the trip and begin the cycle
again.

“We are trying to build awareness about the best practices for pollinators,”
Shields said. “We are hoping that we can create a habitat that benefits the
Monarch butterflies and other critically important pollinating insects so that
they can thrive. This benefits everyone in the long run.”

Monday, May 30, 2016

Today is Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for those who
have died in service of the United States. In last Monday’s transportation
blog, activities taking place at the three national cemeteries in Kansas were
featured. As a reminder, today’s ceremonies at those three cemeteries are at:

Leavenworth - The Leavenworth National Cemetery ceremony
will take place at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony at the Fort Leavenworth
National Cemetery at 11:40 a.m.Fort Scott –The ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m.
at the cemetery.

National
Moment of Remembrance

The “National Moment of
Remembrance”
resolution was passed in 2000, which asks that at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial
Day all Americans observe a moment of silence or listen to ‘Taps.’

Thursday, May 26, 2016

This past weekend all lanes of I-435 at I-35 were closed as part of bridge removal. By closing the lanes to traffic it gave crews time to work on the bridges as part of the Johnson County Gateway.

During that time several videos were made to show magnitude of the work being done in such a short amount of time. Work is still being done on the project, and it includes lane closures and full interchange closures, that information is updated daily on our website which can be found here.

We know waiting for projects to be complete is not easy, but we hope that you can look at these videos and see the work being done.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

We are starting a new feature called Work Zone Wednesday that will highlight projects around the state. Today's feature is about the zipper merge. The zipper merge is popular in Minnesota and has been used in Washington state as well. It's a common question that KDOT gets on social media, when will Kansas use the zipper merge instead of backing up traffic for miles, use the zipper merge?

But what's the zipper merge?

The zipper merge asks traffic to stay in both lanes until they are told to merge, then take turns of every other car going until you are in one lane, flowing together like the teeth of zipper.

KDOT will be using the zipper merge, or late merge, on a bridge repair project in the Kansas City area, northbound U.S. 69 over 119th Street in Overland Park. It is important that drivers follow the signs instead of using the traditional early merge that has been used in Kansas for years. Don't lane block your fellow drivers, the two lanes are both to be used while traveling.

We've created this video to explain how the zipper merge will work in Kansas. For more information about the zipper merge and the project that it will be used on, please look here. And please zip the urge to merge!

To find the right size helmet, put one on your head without fastening the
straps.
The front of the helmet should be level and two-fingers width above your
eyebrows.
Shake your head from side to side: There should only be a little movement.

Share the road

Bikes are vehicles and should act and be treated as such

Laws that apply to motorists also apply to people on bikes

In choosing a route to ride an errand or go on a ride with
the family, choose roads that parallel main streets, slower neighborhood roads
that will be just as efficient, but without the amount of traffic main streets
have. It may be a slightly farther distance, but it will be a higher quality,
less stressful riding experience!

When first riding to work, or trying a route you plan to use
frequently, give it a try on a weekend afternoon or a time of less traffic.
This way you can get a feel for the distance and other factors. Plus you won't
be feeling stressed in case something comes up and you can't make it to your
destination by a certain time.

Don't forget to bring a lock if you intend to place your
bike outside at your destination. Try and bring the bicycle inside if you plan
to be there overnight.

If you are commuting by bike to work, try bringing an extra
set of clothes the first couple times you try it. If you find you don't sweat
to a point where you're uncomfortable wearing those clothes, just ride in your
work clothes and take a more leisurely pace.

A front or rear rack you can get at a local bike shop can
make any short trip more enjoyable depending on your preference for riding with
items or bags on your back.

A front and rear reflector are required in Kansas. A front
headlight is required at dusk, but a taillight is great idea for your own
visibility as well!

To try and avoid flats while out riding, check the
appropriate air pressure on the side of your tires and refill every few weeks!

Monday, May 23, 2016

Numerous Memorial Day remembrance ceremonies, services
and activities will take place across the state this weekend to remember the
people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces. The post highlights
activities scheduled at Kansas’ three national cemeteries – two are in
Leavenworth and one is in Fort Scott.

Leavenworth -
On Friday, May 27, the Airlifter Brass from the U.S. Air Force Band of
Mid-America will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. at Leavenworth High School.

Saturday morning, about 1,500 local scouts and volunteers
from around the area will decorate the graves at both the Leavenworth National
Cemetery and the Fort Leavenworth National Cemetery.

On Monday, the Leavenworth National Cemetery ceremony
will take place at 9 a.m. followed by the ceremony at the Fort Leavenworth
National Cemetery at 11:40 a.m.

Fort
Scott – On Friday, May 27, local scouts, volunteers and member
of the National Honor Society from Fort Scott High School will decorate the
graves at Fort Scott National Cemetery. On Monday, the ceremony will take place
at 10:30 a.m. at the cemetery.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

As the temperatures rise, so do the number of motorcycles on
the roads. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and we’re encouraging all
drivers and riders to “Share the Road.”

In 2014, 4,586 motorcyclists were killed in crashes, a
decrease of 2.3 percent from 2013. Those deaths accounted for 14 percent of the
total highway fatalities that year, despite motorcycle registrations
representing only 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States.

The NHTSA offers the following safety tips for sharing the
road with motorcycles:

Allow motorcycles a full lane at all times. Even though they are small vehicles, they have all of the rights of the road as any other motorist.

Always signal when changing lanes or merging with traffic.

Watch for their turn signals. Just because a turn signal is on doesn't mean the ride is turning. Some signals are not self-canceling and riders may forget to turn them off. Ensure the rider is turning before proceeding.

Check all mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes or merging with traffic. Motorcycles can be easily hidden in a vehicle's blind spot.

Increase your following distance to three to four seconds when following a motorcycle. This gives riders more time to maneuver or stop in an emergency.

Motorcyclists have the same rights, privileges and
responsibilities as any other motorist on the roadway. Safe riding practices
and cooperation from other road users will help reduce the number of fatalities
and injuries on our roads. Be safe and “Share the Road!”

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Bicycle Awareness Month is May, and Bike to Work Day is on Friday, May 20. There are events that highlight bicycle awareness all over the state, here are a few that were sent to us.

In Lawrence- Homeless Shelter Event. May 21, members of the Bike Coop
along with League of American Cyclist Certified Instructors, will be teaching a
commuter and safety class to guests at the Lawrence Community Shelter (homeless
shelter). The people who take this three-hour course will earn locks, lights,
bicycle repair tools and helmets and those who don't have bikes, will earn them
and those, also.

They have the bicycles, but need monetary or supply donations
to help provide locks, lights, helmets and bicycle repair tools for those
completing the course. Here is the sign up for donations.

May bicycle, tool and donation drive. We are only able to
do what we do because of the generosity of those who donate their time,
resources and talents. In May, we are collecting bicycles, bicycle tools, parts
and monetary donations. For more information on how to donate parts, bikes and
tools, email lawrenceunchained@gmail.com.
Monetary donations may be made online at http://www.lawrenceunchained.com/donate/

Thursday, May 12, 2016

This month is bicycle awareness month, and we found a few photos that show bicycles being used as transportation not just for recreation. The photos were found at the Kansas Memory section of the Kansas Historical Society.

A boy in Logan County taken between 1940 and 1949 with two dead skunks.

Wichita Beacon newspaper carrier wearing a dust mask in Ness City in 1935.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Topeka doctor Bill Sachs doesn’t
treat every car crash victim that comes to Stormont Vail Health. But as the
trauma program director for the hospital, he and his staff see the worst.

“We just see the serious ones,” Sachs
said. “The ones we see aren’t wearing their seat belts.”

Sachs knows what the studies back;
wearing a seat belt reduces the number of significant injuries from deaths from
motor vehicles by more than 50 percent. As a part of those studies, the Kansas
Department of Transportation announced Wednesday at Stormont Vail that there
will be added law enforcement looking out for those not buckling up. Kansas’
annual “Click it. Or ticket.” campaign will be Monday, May 16 through Sunday,
June 5.

Lauren
Newell, a sophomore at Wabaunsee High School who spoke at today’s event, was wearing her seat belt last year
when she was involved in a crash and walked away from the event. Her boyfriend,
who was not wearing his was ejected from the car and now suffers from a
traumatic brain injury.

“Because he didn’t wear his seat
belt, his life will never be the same,” Newell said. “It doesn’t matter how far
you’re driving or how fast you are going. You need to buckle up.”

Transportation Secretary Mike King
echoed Newell’s message.

“We know when seat belt use goes up,
fatalities and serious injuries go down,” King said. “‘Click it. Or ticket.’
campaign focuses on our goal of ‘Drive to Zero,’ which means just one
preventable death on our roadways is one too many.”

“On the ‘Drive to Zero,’ you are in
the driver’s seat,” King said. “It’s up to you to make sure everyone in your
car is buckled up.”

For the next few weeks law
enforcement will be working overtime to enforce Kansas’ seat belt laws because
it saves lives.

Kansas Highway Patrol Lt. Adam
Winters has worked countless crashes in his career as a Trooper.

“Every time we are dispatched to a
crash, I just hope that the victims are wearing their seat belts,” Winters
said. “Memorial Day is the official kick off to summer, and we know the roads
are going to be busy. Please take the time to buckle up. Every trip. Every
time.”

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

A bird's eye view of the two new-lane flyover ramps serving eastbound I-435 to northbound I-35 and westbound I-435 to southbound I-35.

Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Mike King, along
with local
city, county and state officials, celebrated the
completion of two key milestones today in the mega Johnson County Gateway
project.

With two new two-lane
flyover ramps serving eastbound I-435 to northbound
I-35 and westbound I-435 to southbound I-35 traffic
in Lenexa serving as
the backdrop, Secretary King, Gateway Interchange Constructors’ Bill Clarkson,
KDOT Project Director Paul Gripka, along with
local city, county and state officials, cut the
ribbon to mark the completion of these ramps.

“When we
plan projects, we want to address issues of safety, congestion, preservation and
expansion of the highway system. This
project accomplishes all of that,” said Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike
King.

The westbound I-35 to southbound I-35 flyover
ramp opened to one lane of traffic on Thursday, April 28, and the eastbound
I-435 to northbound I-35 flyover ramp is scheduled to open to one lane of
traffic on Wednesday, May 11, weather permitting. Both of these ramps will
carry two lanes of traffic when all adjacent project work is completed later
this year.

More than 230,000 vehicles use the I-435/I-35/K-10 interchange and
that number is estimated to grow to 380,000 by 2040. This traffic volume, along
with economic development potential, declining infrastructure and roadway
safety concerns, are among the key reasons for much needed improvements in the
interchange area.

Gateway Interchange Constructors is the design-build team that is
completing the project’s Phase 2 construction work. GIC is a joint venture led
by Kansas City, Mo.-based Clarkson Construction Co., which has partnered with
Kiewit Infrastructure Co. Additional key members of the team include local
design firms HDR Engineering, Inc. and George Butler Associates, Inc.

The
$288 million, three-year Gateway project is the state’s first major
design-build project. Construction on Phase 2 is scheduled to be substantially
complete by December 31, 2016.

The work, which also includes photographs from Minnesota and Canada, has also been featured in Travel and Leisure story in the past year. De Ruijter set out to find why Kansas' road grid system isn't exactly the grid that it appears to be from the ground, and can only usually be viewed from the air.

Around 100 motorcyclists from 11 states toured in 1913 stopped in Dodge City on their way to Denver.

These photos highlight the Kansas Short Grass Motorcycle Club's annual tour from Hutchinson to Denver, which was the host city for that year's national convention of Federation of American Motorcyclists. According to the Kansas Historical Society, the Short Grass Motorcycle Club was founded in Rexford in 1910, and received national attention because of their long-distance motorcycle tours and called themselves "the most famous motorcycle club in the world."

During the stop in Dodge City motorcycle races were held on a two-mile track that drew 1,000 spectators.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Two
bridges on K-39 in Neosho County will be replaced as part of the projects
approved in KDOT’s April construction letting. One is over Draw Creek and other
Big Creek Drainage. Work will begin early this summer with traffic following a
detour.

Eight
projects were approved at a cost of about $3.8 million. For more information on
the all approved April projects, click here.

Monday, May 2, 2016

ICYMI: Willard Bridge loan agreement officially approved

An
agreement authorizing a state loan to Shawnee County to help pay for a new
Willard Bridge was signed today by Kansas Transportation Secretary Mike King.

The agreement, signed during an event near the bridge, authorizes a loan of up
to $8.5 million from the Kansas Department of Transportation to the county. The
interest-free loan, which is to be repaid in annual installments of $850,000,
will be combined with countywide sales tax revenues, $900,000 from Wabaunsee
County and other funds to cover the costs of the $16 million replacement
project.

Willard Bridge, left, and the pier construction that is underway.

The Willard Bridge, which was built in 1955, spans the Kansas River between
Shawnee and Wabaunsee counties. It is structurally deficient and has a posted
weight limit that restricts school buses and other heavy vehicles from crossing
over it. “KDOT recognizes this is an important connection between I-70, western
Shawnee County and Wabaunsee County,” said Secretary King. “This is a great
example of a partnership between KDOT and local governments to improve the
public transportation system.”